The government of Kenya through the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Sports and Arts has declared an all-out war against doping.
Speaking during the commissioning of a Multi-Purpose Hall at Transcend Talent Academy based in Cherang’any Constituency, Trans Nzoia County, Youth Affairs, Sports and Arts Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba said doping threatens the heritage of Kenya.
“Kenya’s top export to the world is not coffee, is not tea, and is not tourism. Kenya’s number one export to the world is our great sportsmen and women and doping places that are at risk and that is why we have declared zero tolerance to doping and an all-out war against doping,” Namwamba said.
The flamboyant CS further said the government will use Ksh3.5 billion in the next five years in the fight against doping.
This will be in partnership with a number of the stakeholders.
“Together with World Athletics, World Anti-Doping Agency, Athletics Integrity Unity, we have entered an undertaking to wedge war by all means and we have invested Ksh700 million per year for five years to finance this war” he added.
Warning shot
On his part, the chairperson of Kenya Anti-doping Steering Committee Wesley Korir fired a warning shot at rogue people involved in the doping business.
He said, “As the chairperson of the steering committee, I am going to make sure doping is a thing of the past in this country. We are going to whip people and I want to put a warning to all those people who are working to dope our athletes that Wesley Korir is coming for you wherever you are.”
In addition, the 2012 Boston Marathon Champion and former Cherang’any Constituency Member of Parliament expressed concern about the Kenyan male athlete’s performance at the just concluded World Championships held in Budapest, Hungary.
While the Kenyan female athletes won three gold medals, the best their male counterparts got was a silver medal.
“For the first time in history in this country, Kenya left the World Championship without a gold medal from our male athletes. What is not going on?” Korir asked.
He also said the Athletics Kenya and the National Olympics Committee should be given a target whenever Kenyan athletes go to participate in world competitions.
Transcend Talent Academy, Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) and Kenya Academy of Sports signed memoranda of understanding during the event.
The three-year-old institution was declared the first Center of Excellence for talent development and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).
The academy is set to receive support and equipment from the Ministry of Sports.
